Best radar detector ?
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Originally Posted by Penforhire,Jul 10 2008, 02:13 PM
9500i or V1. I pick the 9500i for its GPS-related features, which totally kick @ss, and voltage display mode.
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From: La Habra
Nice try. It is not a secret but if you own a V1 you'll want to keep your head in the sand and keep saying how you need the arrows. Read the sales literature. Hey, the V1 is a great detector. The 9500i (newest is ix) is better.
Anyway, I can mark speed traps so every time I pass by it either gives me advance warning (speed-sensitive distance of 1/2 mi or 1 mi). I can mark false signals (gas stations or door remotes) and it will COMPLETELY tune out that signal every time, while still recognizing new signals at that location! When a signal is picked up, and if I'm rolling over 45 MPH, it'll display my actual GPS-measured speed. Its auto-sensitivity mode is tied to actual speed (I think 45 MPH is kick-over point).
Non-GPS goodies? How about auto-brightness AND auto-volume (good for the S2K). Like I mentioned before, I also dig the voltage display mode (shows actual car voltage), same as in the 8500 series.
I believe the new 9500ix allows you to upload speed trap & camera data from others into the unit.
Anyway, I can mark speed traps so every time I pass by it either gives me advance warning (speed-sensitive distance of 1/2 mi or 1 mi). I can mark false signals (gas stations or door remotes) and it will COMPLETELY tune out that signal every time, while still recognizing new signals at that location! When a signal is picked up, and if I'm rolling over 45 MPH, it'll display my actual GPS-measured speed. Its auto-sensitivity mode is tied to actual speed (I think 45 MPH is kick-over point).
Non-GPS goodies? How about auto-brightness AND auto-volume (good for the S2K). Like I mentioned before, I also dig the voltage display mode (shows actual car voltage), same as in the 8500 series.
I believe the new 9500ix allows you to upload speed trap & camera data from others into the unit.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: San Diego, Wess-Side!!
Bells and whistles are fun for the first few days out the box. After that it's power up and forget.
V1 has proven performance over many years across the masses of car enthusiast.
Although there are a few other detectors out there that actually outperform the V1 in certain categories, you can't go wrong with it.
I've wondered over the past few years when Valentine will update their casing with some more modern design (with arrows of course).
V1 has proven performance over many years across the masses of car enthusiast.
Although there are a few other detectors out there that actually outperform the V1 in certain categories, you can't go wrong with it.
I've wondered over the past few years when Valentine will update their casing with some more modern design (with arrows of course).
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: SunnySoCal
I read that the Valentine guy is a jerkoff. he originally worked for Beltronics and then left for some stupid reason 
started his own company and runs it like a tyrant, refusing to take into account suggestions for improvement.
feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
started his own company and runs it like a tyrant, refusing to take into account suggestions for improvement.
feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,901
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From: Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by lookuphere,Jul 10 2008, 06:22 PM
I read that the Valentine guy is a jerkoff. he originally worked for Beltronics and then left for some stupid reason
started his own company and runs it like a tyrant, refusing to take into account suggestions for improvement.
feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
started his own company and runs it like a tyrant, refusing to take into account suggestions for improvement.
feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,574
Likes: 62
From: NJ USA
this debate crops up every few months - should be pretty easy to find with a
search. In the end, V1 and Escort/Passport/BEL have comparable range, so
it comes down to feature set and price, which is why the debate never ends -
different features are more valuable to different people, and rightly, because
they use the detectors in different places and different ways, and for some
people no feature set is valuable enough to trump the price differences.
For me, knowing exactly where the radar is coming from is important,
because I only use a detector to spot moving instant-on radar in places
where there aren't many false alarms. Someone who uses it under different
conditions might find a GPS false-marking feature useful.
search. In the end, V1 and Escort/Passport/BEL have comparable range, so
it comes down to feature set and price, which is why the debate never ends -
different features are more valuable to different people, and rightly, because
they use the detectors in different places and different ways, and for some
people no feature set is valuable enough to trump the price differences.
For me, knowing exactly where the radar is coming from is important,
because I only use a detector to spot moving instant-on radar in places
where there aren't many false alarms. Someone who uses it under different
conditions might find a GPS false-marking feature useful.